Fastening means for double-skin foam core building panel

ABSTRACT

A DOUBLE-SKIN FOAM CORE BUILDING PANEL PRESENTING AN INBOARD SIDE SEGMENT ALONG ONE SIDE AND AN OUTBOARD SLIDE SEGMENT ALONG ITS OPPOSITE SIDE-THE SIDE SEGMENTS BEING ADAPTED TO BE ASSEMBLED IN LAPPED INTERFITTED RELATION WITHOUT EXTERNALLY VISIBLE FASTENERS. HIDDEN FASTENING MEANS IN THE FORM OF A CLIP AND FASTENER IS PROVIDED FOR SECURING THE INBOARD SIDE SEGMENT OF THE PANEL TO THE SUBGIRT OF A STRUCTURAL FRAMEWORK.   D R A W I N G

Feb. 6, 1973 CURRAN 3,714,741

FASTENING MEANS FOR DOUBLE-SKIN FOAM CORE BUILDING PANEL Filed Aug. 23.1971 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.5

INVENTOR. BERNARD E. CURRAN BY/Q/ AmNE? Feb. 6, 1973 B. E. CURRAN3,714,747

FASTENING MEANS FOR DQUBLE-SKIN FOAM CORE BUILDING PANEL Filed Aug. 23.1971 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.6 Fl

O IFIII I \\\\l INVENTOR BERNARD E. CURRAN /Ql w K NEY United StatesPatent O 3,714,747 FASTENING MEANS FOR DOUBLE-SKIN FOAM CORE BUILDINGPANEL Bernard E. Curran, Sewickley, Pa., assignor to H. H. RobertsonCompany, Pittsburgh, Pa. Filed Aug. 23, 1971, Ser. No. 174,105 Int. Cl.E04c 1/10, 2/20 US. Cl. 52-309 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Adouble-skin foam core building panel presenting an inboard side segmentalong one side and an outboard side segment along its opposite side-theside segments being adapted to be assembled in lapped interfittedrelation without externally visible fasteners. Hidden fastening means inthe form of a clip and fastener is provided for securing the inboardside segment of the panel to the subgirt of a structural framework.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (1) Field of the invention-This inventionrelates to double-skin foam core building panels, more particularly tofastening means for securing the panels to the structural framework of abuilding.

(2) Description of the prior art.Double-skin insulated building panelsare well known in the prior art for use in the construction ofbuildings, see US. Pat. 2,047,154 (C. J. 'Pimsner, July 7, 1936);2,284,229 (G. V. Palmer, May 28, 1942); 3,062,337 (J. H. Zittle, Nov. 6,1962); 3,367,076 (P. S. OBrien, Feb. 6, 1968). Such double-skininsulated panels have utilized thermal-insulation materials such asglass fiber batts, lightweight foamed plastic blocks and the like tomaintain the inner and outer facing sheets in spacedapart relation. Whenbuilding panels with spaced-apart facing sheets are applied to abuilding framework, some fastening means is provided to secure the panelto the structural framework.

The fastening means may be entirely hidden from external view, see US.Pat. 3,372,520 (E. E. Hensel, Mar. 12, 1968). The fastening means may bepartly hidden from external view and partly visible, see US. Pat.3,290,845 (M. K. Snyder, Dec. 13, 1966). The fastening means may beentirely exposed to view, see US. Pats. 3,399,503 (H. J. W. Payne etal., Sept. 3, 1968); 3,466,831 (W. F. Lenoir, Sept. 16, 1969).

The hidden fastening means of Hensel secures only the inner facing sheetto the structural steel. Hensel resorts to a separate channel forpositively connecting one edge of the outer facing sheet to thecorresponding edge of the inner facing sheet. The Snyder, Payne et al.and Lenoir arrangements provide securement of the outer and inner facingsheets to the structural steel but at the expense of exposed fasteners.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The principal object of this invention is toprovide improved fastening means for securing the overlapped edge of adouble-skin foam core building panel to a subgirt of a. buildingframework.

Another object of this invention is to provide improved fastening meansby which the outer facing sheet is positively connected to the innerfacing sheet, whereby retention of the outer facing sheet is notentirely independent upon auto-adhesive bond between the outer facingsheet and the foam core.

A further object of this invention is to provide improved fasteningmeans by which the inner facing sheet is positive- Patented Feb. 6, 1973ly secured to the subgirt while the outer facing sheet is positivelyconnected to the inner facing sheet.

The present fastening means is adapted for use with double-skin foamcore building panels of the type presenting an inboard side segmentalong one side adapted for engagement with the structural steel and aninboard side segment along its opposite side. When assembled, adjacentpanels are presented in side-by-side, overlapped interfitted relation.

In accordance with the present invention, the inboard side segment ofthe panel comprises outer and inner longitudinally extending facingsheet portions separated by a foam core. The outer facing sheet portionis provided with an opening. A recess is provided in the foam corebeneath the opening. The present fastening means comprises a clippresented in the recess. The clip includes oppositely extending flangesengaged with the exterior face of the outer facing sheet portion andinwardly extending legs engaged with the interior face of the inboardfacing sheet portion. Fastening means extending through the clip,secures the inboard side segment of the panel to the structural steel.

The inboard and outboard tfacing sheet portions may comprise segments ofthe spaced-apart facing sheets. In this instance, the clip and fastenermeans positively secure the inner facing sheet to the subgirt while theoppositely extending flanges which overlie the outer facing sheetsegment, positively connect the outer facing sheet to the inner facingsheet.

Alternatively, the inboard and outboard facing sheet portions maycomprise confronting segments of the inner facing sheet. In thisinstance, the clip and (fastener means positively secure only the innerfacing sheet to the structural steel.

In each instance, the clip and fastener are recessed and do notinterfere with the erection of an adjacent panel in side-by-side,overlapped, interfitted relation with the previously erected panel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a broken, cross-sectional,isometric view in exploded form, illustrating a building constructionpanel and the fastening means of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional, isometric view of an inboardside segment of the panel of FIG. 1, further illustrating the openingand recess provided therein;

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of a clip associated with the presentfastening means;

FIG. 4 is an isometric view illustrating an alternative embodiment ofthe present clip;

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of a clip of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view illustrating a jointbetween adjacent ones of the building panels of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary, broken, cross-sectional, isometric viewillustrating the use of the panel of FIG. 1 in an inverted position; and

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view, illustrating a joint between adjacentones of the building panels of FIG. 8.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S) FIG. 1 illustrates a buildingpanel 10 comprising spacedapart facing sheets 11, 12 and a foamedplastics core 13 disposed therebetween. The building panel 10 may beerected such that the facing sheet 11 comprises the outer facing sheetand the facing sheet 12 comprises the inner facing sheet.

The panel 10 presents an inboard segment 14 and a tongue 15 at a firstpanel side 16; and an outboard segment 17 and a recess 18 at theopposite or second panel side 19. As shown in FIG. 6, the overallarrangement is such that a joint 20 is formed between adjacent panels10A, 10B wherein the tongue 15A is received in the recess 18B andwherein the outboard segment 17B overlaps the inboard segment 14A. Theinboard segment 14 ('FIG. 1) comprises outer and inner [facing sheetportions 21, 22 of the facing sheets 11, 12 respectively which areseparated by the foam core 13.

In accordance with the present invention, fastening means 23 areprovided comprising a clip 24 and fastener means, such as a self-tappingscrew 25. The clip 24 is received through an opening 26 provided in theouter facing sheet portion 21 and a recess 27 provided in the foam core13, see also FIG. 2. The opening 26 and the recess 27 may be formed inthe field by a punching operation utilizing a suitably pointed tool (notillustrated). In the preferred arrangement, a pair of spacedapartdepressions 28 are provided at the periphery of the opening 26 for apurpose hereinafter to be described.

The clip 24 (FIG. 3) is formed from a single piece of light gauge sheetmetal. When formed, the clip 24 includes a rectangular web 29 having acentral aperture 30 adapted to receive the threaded shank 31 (FIG. 1) ofthe fastener 25. The web 29 presents opposed sides 32 and opposed ends33. A pair of substantially parallel upturned legs 34 extend from theopposed sides 32 of the web 29. Each of the upturned legs 34 terminate moutward flanges 35. A pair of substantially parallel downturned flanges36 extend from the opposed ends 33 of the web 29.

The present clip may take the form illustrated in FIGS. 4 and whereinthe clip is identified by the numeral 24'. In this embodiment, each ofthe legs 36 presents re-entrant flanges 36a extending inwardly beneaththe web 29.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the clip 24 is received through the opening26 and the recess 27. The legs 36 are pressed into the foam core 13until the edges 37 thereof (FIG. 6) engage the interior face 38 of theinner facing sheet 12A. In this position, the oppositely extendingflanges 35 (FIG. 7) engage the depressions 28A thereby to positivelyconnect the outer facing sheet 11A to the inner facing sheet 12A. Wheninstalled, the fastener 25 extends through the central aperture 30, thefoam core 13, the inner facing sheet 12a and as threadedly engaged witha subgirt 39-the subgirt 39 constituting an element of the structuralframework of a building (not illustrated). The fastener 25 positivelysecures the inner facing sheet 12A to the subgirt 39.

It will be observed in FIG. 7 that the clip 24 is disposed substantiallyentirely between the outer face 40 of the outboard facing sheet portion21A and the interior face 38 of the inboard facing sheet portion 28A.The arrangement is such that the clip 24 and the fastener 25 arerecessed and do not interfere with the installation of the adjacentpanel B.

FIG. 8 illustrates a building panel 52 which comprises the panel 10 ofFIG. 1 reversed. In this presentation, the facing sheet 12 comprises theouter facing sheet whereas the facing sheet 11 comprises the innerfacing sheet. The panel 52 of FIG. 8 presents an inboard segment 41 anda groove 42 along a first panel side 43; and an outboard segment 44including a tongue 45 at the opposite or second panel side 46. Theinboard segment 41 presents adjoining outer and inner longitudinallyextending facing sheet portions 47, 48 respectively.

In this embodiment, an opening 49 is provided in the outer facing sheetportion 47 and a recess 50 is provided in the foam core 13 directlybeneath the opening 49. Spaced-apart depressions 51 provided in theouter facing sheet portion 47 at the periphery of the opening 49.

It will be observed in FIG. 9' that the present fastening means 23' isreceived in the opening 49 and recess 50 of the panel 10C, in the mannerherein before described. In this arrangement, the fastening means 23'serves to secure the inner facing sheet 11C to the subgirt 39. Thefastening means 23' does not interfere with the installation of theadjacent panel 10D.

I claim:

1. In a joint between a pair of building construction panels erected inside-by-side relation to the structural steel of a building framework,each of said building panels comprising spaced-apart facing sheets and afoamed plastics core disposed therebetween, one of said panelspresenting an inboard side segment engaged with said structural steel,and the other of said panels presenting an outboard side segmentdisposed in overlapped relation with said inboard side segment, theimprovement comprising:

said inboard side segment comprising outer and inner facing sheetportions extending longitudinally of said panel and separated by saidfoamed plastics case;

said outer facing sheet portion having an opena recess in said coreadjacent to said opening;

a clip presented in said recess and including oppositely extendingflanges engaged with the exterior face of said outer facing sheetportion and inwardly extending legs engaged with the interior face ofsaid inboard facing sheet portion; and

fastener means extending through said clip for securing said inboardside segment to said structural steel.

2. The improvement defined in claim 1 wherein said outer and innerfacing sheet portions comprise segments of said spaced-apart facingsheets.

3. The improvement defined in claim 1 wherein said outer and innerfacing sheet portions comprise segments of said inner facing sheet.

4. The improvement defined in claim 1 wherein said clip is disposedsubstantially entirely between the outer face of said outer facing sheetportion and the interior face of said inner facing sheet portion.

5. The improvement defined in claim 1 wherein said outer facing sheetportion includes depressions at the periphery of said opening which areengaged by said oppositely extending flanges of said clip.

6. The improvement defined in claim 1 wherein said fastener meansextends through said clip and between; said legs.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,535,844 10/1970 Glaros 52-5953,667,180 6/1972 Tischuk 52-483 X PRICE C. FAW, 1a., Primary ExaminerUS. Cl. X.R. 52-483, 595

